The Animal Foundation is one of the leading nonprofit animal charities in Las Vegas. This year, the organization will host the 15th annual Best in Show dog show at the Thomas and Mack Center at UNLV in support of lost, abandoned, and unwanted animals throughout Las Vegas. The show, which features dozens of shelter dogs, raises funds to support and care for animals in need and helps find homes for every dog in the event.
What Is the Best in Show Event?
The Best in Show event is a family-friendly dog show featuring more than 50 dogs from shelters in Las Vegas. Each dog will compete in their class for the title of Best in Show — and a new, loving home. After the show, all dogs are available for adoption.
The show has six events: Small, Medium, Large, Puppy, Variety, and Special Needs. Finalists will be determined by a panel of Las Vegas news personalities.
The event will take place on the concourse level of the Thomas and Mack Center at UNLV with concession stands and pet-friendly vendors.
Making a Difference
All proceeds from the Best in Show event will benefit the Animal Foundation, which is the highest volume single-site animal shelter in the country. Founded in 1978, the Animal Foundation is an open-admission animal shelter that accepts all dogs in need, regardless of how injured or sick they are. The Foundation doesn’t just help cats and dogs; it also accepts rabbits, pigs, rodents, roosters, and exotic animals.
The Animal Foundation offers numerous programs that address the causes of pet overpopulation, homelessness, and suffering such as:
— Low cost spay/neuter service
— Microchipping
— Low cost vaccinations
— Lost & Found
— Community Cats, a pilot program in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society that traps feral and free-roaming cats in Las Vegas so they can be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, ear-tipped for identification, and released back into the community in which they were found. This program decreases negative behavior like fighting and marking territory, prevents the spread of rabies, and controls the local animal population.
— Owner-requested humane euthanasia
Keeping Every Person and Pet Together (KEPPT), an owner-surrender intervention program that helps pet owners experiencing problems like financial setbacks, pet behavior issues, and trouble finding pet-friendly housing keep their pet
Other Upcoming Animal Charity Events
While the Animal Foundation is the largest animal shelter and charity in Las Vegas, there are other events you can attend this spring to help homeless and injured animals in the county.
The Paws on the Patio Festival & Adoption Fair will take place at Tivoli Village in April. Bring your pets, kids, and the whole family to this outdoor event where you can eat, drink, shop, and socialize with your pets to support local animal charities and rescues. The festival will have a dog zone with competitions, prizes, therapy dog and obedience training. At the Kid Zone, young attendees can enjoy bounce houses, face painting, and entertainment. The event will also include an adoption fair with dozens of animals from local shelters looking for their forever home.
At Casa de Shenandoah, the Nevada SPCA will host their annual Animals in Wonderland in late April. The event will feature wines, appetizers, desserts, and teas as guests meet adoptable rescue animals. As in prior years, guests can also bid on exclusive silent auction items with after hours access to the grounds of Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah.